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Nutritional Needs of Different Breeds of Dogs

WebMD Feature

By Anna Nguyen

Reviewed By Amy Flowers, DVM

No matter what breed of dog you have, you've got a lot of choices to meet your pet's nutritional needs. Some dog food brands are made for specific breeds. You'll also find dog food based on the age, size, or energy level of your dog. Your options include puppy to senior formulas, food for small to extra-large dogs, and food for high to low activity levels.

Your dog should be able to get all the nutrients he needs from commercial dog food unless he has:

Special needs

Low nutrition levels because of illness

In these cases your dog may need a special diet. Talk to your vet.

"Overall, dogs' nutritional needs at various life stages are similar," says Louise Murray, DVM, vice president of the ASPCA's Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. "Most dog sizes and breeds can be fed the same diet, although the amount fed should be tailored to each dog's metabolism and activity to avoid obesity."

Your dog uses nutrients in dog food as a source of energy and to help him grow.

Especially important for your dog are:

Fats

Proteins

Carbohydrates

Vitamins

Minerals

Water

To help you figure out the amount of nutrients your dog needs, your vet can check your pet's current and ideal body condition score. It's like BMI (body mass index) in people.

When you find out the score, your vet can calculate how much to feed your dog to reach and keep this score, says Amy Farcas, DVM. Farcas is a veterinary clinical nutritionist at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

Picking Food for Your Dog

Your dog's age and activity level are important when making decisions about feeding him, Farcas says.

For example, a 50-pound border collie and a 50-pound basset hound have different dietary needs. The border collie will probably need more calories per day because it's a more active dog.

Diets made for active dogs take this into account. The food will likely be higher in fat, which provides more energy than protein or carbohydrates. The other nutrients in the formula will likely be the same as those needed by a less active dog.

Size also plays a role in meeting a dog's nutritional needs. Smaller dogs have a higher metabolism, which means they need more calories per pound than larger dogs, says Lisa Peterson, a spokeswoman for the American Kennel Club and a dog breeder for over 30 years.